The Golden Fifty

We think of our fifty years past as an almost incredible journey. Metaphorically it began on a raft and has touched home port on a world-cruising super ship. Working with the log-books and related records of the 50 year journey has brought us closer to maturity. For one thing we have suddenly developed a case of mental allergy to the words greatest, best, better and most. The questions come in clusters: What in your opinion is the best photograph? Who is the greatest artist? Who do you think has contributed the most? Who is the better writer, White or Black?

We are constantly bombarded with queries relative to the how, what, where, why and when of the magazine's development and we are asked to expound upon the reasons for its increasing popularity and success. We somehow feel that our answers do not satisfy everyone. At times it would be easier to explain why birds fly, how fish swim and why only bees make honey. There are no books or formulae to explain or describe the "wonder" of the publications business.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS Magazine is what it is today because certain people, circumstances, events and places have been involved in a never before, never again voyage which started fifty years ago. Thanks be to God we are now at home port to celebrate a Golden Anniversary. From head tables on the testimonial circuit the names of brave and illustrious captains will be praised, acclaimed and toasted because the great log-book of the 50 year journey must favor the names of brave captains. Fifty years' experience has made us good sailors. No one makes a journey alone. In perusing the volumes of our 50 year record, we must conclude that in seeking the greatest, best, and most, we see much humor in the littleness of many greatest, best and most things and feel much happiness in discovering the beauty and importance of small things.

And so without disparaging or belittling the brave captains, if only the brave and the illustrious captains get all the credit for the glories of the journey this would unjustly and seriously disparage all the others - navigators, crewmen, deckhands and passengers whose names are also recorded in the journals, log-books and passenger lists. Our ship is a very special kind of ship... a treasure ship it's wealth measured in a unique collection of words and pictures, a testimonial to a very special group of passengers. They are the free-lance artists, photographers, poets and writers who have always been happy to "sign on" for any part of the journey for a low-pay, high esteem kind of fringe benefit. A few have made many trips. Many have signed only one pay voucher. Others have chosen to remain anonymous. Each in his time, and his way has contributed his share of greatness to the full measure of our treasure, and to our mutual enrichment.

On the bridge, preparing to sail into the next fifty years, we recall the words of Raymond Carlson, illustrious, wise and brave captain for 33 years: "You can't win tomorrow's game with the points you made yesterday."

Hasta la vista, all aboard, shipmates.

APRIL 1975 VOL. LI No. 4

JAMES E. STEVENS, Director of Publications JOSEPH STACEY, Editor WESLEY HOLDEN, Associate Editor WILLIAM C. ANGIUS, Circulation Manager RAYMOND CARLSON, Editor Emeritus

RAUL H. CASTRO, Governor of Arizona

ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WILLIAM A. ORDWAY, Director William N. Price, State Engineer

BOARD MEMBERS

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS is published monthly by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Address: ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, 2039 W. Lewis Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85009. $6.00 per year in U.S. and possessions: $7.00 elsewhere; 75 cents each. Second Class Postage paid at Phoenix, Arizona, under Act of March 3, 1879. Copyrighted 1975, by the Arizona Department of Transportation.

ALLOW FIVE WEEKS FOR A CHANGE OF ADDRESS. SEND IN THE OLD AS WELL AS THE NEW ADDRESS INCLUDING ZIP CODE.

THIS SPECIAL ISSUE Golden Anniversary Commemorative Edition ARIZONA HIGHWAYS FIFTY YEARS ON THE ROAD COLOR CLASSICS 35mm COLOR SLIDES

Color reproductions used in this issue are selections from earlier ARIZONA HIGHWAYS magazines. Since they would be duplications of previously offered 35mm slides they will not be available from this issue. For a free up-to-date catalog of all slides in stock write to: ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, 2039 West Lewis Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85009.

INSIDE FRONT COVER: "The Good Life" by PETER BLOOMER, was the front cover of our January 1973 issue. The cowboys silhouetted against the fire glow are members of the Cowboy Artists of America. Photographer Bloomer accompanied the thirty-six riders on their 1972 annual trail ride on the Ernest Chilson Bar-T-Bar Ranch near Flagstaff.

INSIDE BACK COVER: "The Age of Electronics" by HERB & DOROTHY MC LAUGHLIN is from the February-March 1962 Special Edition. This graphic tribute to one of Arizona's vital industries was later used as the cover of AMERICA - the official U.S. publication distributed in Russia and her satellite nations.